Kaessner, Howard Lee

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kaessner, Howard Lee   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 39565677   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #113 dated 15 June 1944, effective 15 June 1944.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #238, effective 4 December 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th Reinforcement Depot, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 11 April 1945, effective 3 April 1945.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 3 April 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 11 October 1944 per General Orders #439, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 18 October 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 12 April 1924
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #132 dated 8 July 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (TD) to Palace Hotel, AAF Station 524 (a Flak house) on 14 November 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #223 dated 12 November 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Dudock, Edward Peter⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Nicholson, Gilbert Orin⇗Co-pilotCT
1st Lt. Hoech, Julius Florence, Jr⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Kaessner, Howard LeeRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Mettler, Jesse Wayne⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Carr, Edward Joseph⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Liebmann, David Peter⇗Tail GunnerKIA
SGT. Armentrout, Elvin Jahune⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Thompson, Bruce Roy⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6149⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; reason unknown.
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
147⇗ 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st B section.
Sortie Report⇗
148⇗ 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A wing. Landed away at Wattisham, AAF Station 377, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
151⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
154⇗ 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
158⇗ 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Radio Operator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑38013.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37870⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Radio Operator 43‑37870⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Radio Operator 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead. Dropped bombs early.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Radio Operator 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
I Group Deputy and Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Deputy and Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
174⇗ 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France 		Radio Operator 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Radio Operator 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Radio Operator 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship. High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship. Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship; low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
193⇗ 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia 		Radio Operator 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
197⇗ 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High (composite) group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
First Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
223⇗ 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
228⇗ 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, A group; Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
229⇗ 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗

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